by Judy Cook

Cats make their homes in some unlikely places.

They wait and hope for a

kind person to offer

a little food or clean water

to drink.

They have their friends and family for company.

But if allowed to reproduce, they can quickly overwhelm even the best intentioned of

caretakers.

Caretakers often call Fix Our Feralsfor help when this happens.

Fix Our Ferals provides equipment,advice, and referral for free spay-neuter.

Caretakers call Fix Our Ferals when a cat is found injured.Our volunteers reach out to find community resources to

help.

We do all we can to ensure the best possible outcome.

Our volunteers sometimes collaborate with other organizations to find permanent indoor homes

forkitties that can no longer live on their own.

We sometimes find small, sick kittenswhen trapping a colony.

Kittens too small or sick for neuter

and return are nursed back to

health and placed in

adoptive homes by our

volunteers, often in collaboration

with other community

groups.

We love happy endings as much as anyone!

Despite our best efforts at trapping and neutering…

…underage kittens sometimes appear in a colony.

Cats need to learn from their colony how to live outdoors; these little ones are missing their lessons.

When big enough, they will be neutered and placed for adoption.

Though we will always need to help injured, sick, and underage cats—

that will not solve the problem

Taming and placing kittens and cats from colonies requires tremendous effort, is extremely time-consuming, and is not always successful.

The only permanent solution is

Trap Neuter Return TNR breaks the cycle of endless and

frequent reproduction, allowing cats to live healthier and happier lives.

What is Trap Neuter Return ?TNR is a process whereby:

Cats 3 months and older are trapped. The cats are surgically sterilized and

vaccinated for rabies. They are cared for during their

recovery. They are returned to their colony. The caretaker feeds, waters and

monitors the health of the colony, and ensures any new cats undergo TNR.

Fix Our Ferals funds are used exclusively to

supportTrap Neuter Return—Why? TNR is the only effective, humane, and proactive means of addressing the root cause of cat overpopulation.

Numerous other local groups and organizations provide services to foster cats; we’d rather collaborate than duplicate!

How are Fix Our Ferals funds used?

We operate a free spay-neuter clinic for feral cats 6 times per year — each clinic can handle up to 200 cats.

We provide referrals to the public for free spay- neuters with our participating veterinarians.

We buy traps and loan them to the public at no cost.

A regional telephone hotline is maintained to take calls from people who need help.

Our web site provides an instant reference for people who just need a little advice.

Scenes from a recent Fix Our Ferals

clinic

One mom cat waiting for her spay.

More than 150 kitties waiting for surgery.

FoF Volunteer Coordinator Heather Lee with Nicole.

Kitties are check weighed after anesthesia.

Tummies are shaved in preparation for surgery.

Waiting for their turn at the neuter table or operating room.

The Ears and Vaccines team is ready for action.

After the spay or neuter is done Other medical needs are tended to when

possible— dental extractions, fight wounds, etc.

The ear is notched—if kitty is trapped again, it is apparent the kitty is neutered and can be released immediately.

Vaccines are administered. Kitty is treated for fleas and combed for

comfort. After kitty wakes up, she goes home the same

day with the caretaker for 2-5 days of recovery.

If follow-up medication is needed, it is dispensed.

Finally—the big day arrives

The caretaker RETURNS the kitty

to her colony and releases her to

enjoy a happier, healthier life.

Some kitties enjoy the freedom of open space—here’s one at the creek.

Many are returned to their neighborhood colony.

Feral kitties may be very friendly towards their caretakers.

Next time you see a kitty peeking at you,

ready to run—look a little closer.

That notch on her ear means somebody

cares about her.

She has her friends and she has her own kind of home—just

not one inside a house.

Please Support Fix Our Ferals by donating today

Cats and caretakers need your help now

Visit our web site:www.fixourferals.org

Call Our Hotline:

510-433-9446Fix Our Ferals is a 501(c)3 charitable organization